Post by chaserisman on Jul 6, 2024 18:12:11 GMT -8
Gunslingers 58, Pirates 55
7/6/24 --
SAN ANTONIO, TX - The San Antonio Gunslingers have had several games that have gone down to the wire this season.
Last week they had their hearts broken on the last play of the game by T.J. Edwards. On Saturday they came out on the right end of a close game.
Sam Castronova threw four touchdown passes, including the game winner to NyQwan Murray with twelve seconds left, as the Gunslingers defeated the Massachusetts Pirates 58-55 at Jon Wayne Field at the Freeman Coliseum on Saturday night to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Gunslingers complete the season series as they defeated the Pirates 52-51 on June 15 at Lowell, Massachusetts.
The first quarter belonged to the offenses as well as the kickers. Henry Nell converted on a deuce attempt on the opening kickoff, which was answered by T.C. Stevens converting one of his own. The Gunslingers (7-7) took the ball after Nell's deuce and scored on a Kali Rashaad touchdown run, and Stevens' deuce gave San Antonio a 9-2 lead. The Pirates (8-7) answered as Jimmie Robinson carried it into the end zone, and Nell's second deuce of the first quarter gave Massachusetts an 11-9 lead; which they took into the second quarter.
It was more of the same in the second quarter as Sam Castronova found D.J. Myers in the end zone to give the Gunslingers a 16-11 lead, but the Pirates responded with Alejandro Bennifield finding Teo Redding; who was able to make the catch while going over the wall, for a touchdown to put Massachusetts in front by two points. San Antonio came back as Castronova found D.J. Myers; who made a sliding catch in the end zone to give the Gunslingers a 23-18 lead. The Pirates responded as Robinson carried it into the end zone to give Massachusetts a 24-23 lead. San Antonio came back as Vincent Gregory carried it into the end zone, and T.C. Stevens converted on the deuce to give the Gunslingers a 32-24 lead at halftime.
Stevens picked up right where he left off as he converted on another deuce attempt to put San Antonio up 34-24, but the Pirates responded as Robinson carried it into the end zone to bring Massachusetts within three. The Gunslingers came back as Sam Castronova scored on a quarterback keeper on Fourth and Goal to put San Antonio up 41-31 going into the fourth quarter.
The Pirates started the fourth by cutting the deficit to 41-37 as Jimmie Robinson carried it into the endzone, and Neal converted on both the drop kick and the deuce attempt to tie the game. The Gunslingers responded as Castronova found NyQwan Murray; who made the catch while going over the wall, to give San Antonio the lead, and T.C. Stevens converted on the deuce attempt to give the Gunslingers a 50-41 lead. Massachusetts answered with Bennifield finding Darren Carrington in the endzone, and Nell's drop kick reduced the Pirates deficit to one point.
Massachusetts made a big play defensively as Cryus Fagan intercepted Castronova, and Robinson scored on the ground again to give the Pirates a 55-50 lead. San Antonio got a short field and took advantage as Castronova found Murray in the end zone, and the Gunslingers converted on the two point conversion to give San Antonio a 58-55 lead. Bennifield threw a pass in the end zone to Teo Redding, but it was knocked away by Clifton Duck; who was carried off the field earlier with a injury. The Pirates sent Nell onto the field to attempt a 42 yard field goal to tie the game, but it was no good and the Gunslingers secured the win.
San Antonio's playoff hopes are still slim, but they were kept alive with a win over one of the top teams in the league. They will need to continue winning and get assistance from around the league if they are to have a chance to play for an IFL Championship.
The Gunslingers will visit the Tucson Sugar Skulls on July 13 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Pirates have a bye next week, but are back in action as they close out the regular season at the Tulsa Oilers on July 20 at 5:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
7/6/24 --
SAN ANTONIO, TX - The San Antonio Gunslingers have had several games that have gone down to the wire this season.
Last week they had their hearts broken on the last play of the game by T.J. Edwards. On Saturday they came out on the right end of a close game.
Sam Castronova threw four touchdown passes, including the game winner to NyQwan Murray with twelve seconds left, as the Gunslingers defeated the Massachusetts Pirates 58-55 at Jon Wayne Field at the Freeman Coliseum on Saturday night to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Gunslingers complete the season series as they defeated the Pirates 52-51 on June 15 at Lowell, Massachusetts.
The first quarter belonged to the offenses as well as the kickers. Henry Nell converted on a deuce attempt on the opening kickoff, which was answered by T.C. Stevens converting one of his own. The Gunslingers (7-7) took the ball after Nell's deuce and scored on a Kali Rashaad touchdown run, and Stevens' deuce gave San Antonio a 9-2 lead. The Pirates (8-7) answered as Jimmie Robinson carried it into the end zone, and Nell's second deuce of the first quarter gave Massachusetts an 11-9 lead; which they took into the second quarter.
It was more of the same in the second quarter as Sam Castronova found D.J. Myers in the end zone to give the Gunslingers a 16-11 lead, but the Pirates responded with Alejandro Bennifield finding Teo Redding; who was able to make the catch while going over the wall, for a touchdown to put Massachusetts in front by two points. San Antonio came back as Castronova found D.J. Myers; who made a sliding catch in the end zone to give the Gunslingers a 23-18 lead. The Pirates responded as Robinson carried it into the end zone to give Massachusetts a 24-23 lead. San Antonio came back as Vincent Gregory carried it into the end zone, and T.C. Stevens converted on the deuce to give the Gunslingers a 32-24 lead at halftime.
Stevens picked up right where he left off as he converted on another deuce attempt to put San Antonio up 34-24, but the Pirates responded as Robinson carried it into the end zone to bring Massachusetts within three. The Gunslingers came back as Sam Castronova scored on a quarterback keeper on Fourth and Goal to put San Antonio up 41-31 going into the fourth quarter.
The Pirates started the fourth by cutting the deficit to 41-37 as Jimmie Robinson carried it into the endzone, and Neal converted on both the drop kick and the deuce attempt to tie the game. The Gunslingers responded as Castronova found NyQwan Murray; who made the catch while going over the wall, to give San Antonio the lead, and T.C. Stevens converted on the deuce attempt to give the Gunslingers a 50-41 lead. Massachusetts answered with Bennifield finding Darren Carrington in the endzone, and Nell's drop kick reduced the Pirates deficit to one point.
Massachusetts made a big play defensively as Cryus Fagan intercepted Castronova, and Robinson scored on the ground again to give the Pirates a 55-50 lead. San Antonio got a short field and took advantage as Castronova found Murray in the end zone, and the Gunslingers converted on the two point conversion to give San Antonio a 58-55 lead. Bennifield threw a pass in the end zone to Teo Redding, but it was knocked away by Clifton Duck; who was carried off the field earlier with a injury. The Pirates sent Nell onto the field to attempt a 42 yard field goal to tie the game, but it was no good and the Gunslingers secured the win.
San Antonio's playoff hopes are still slim, but they were kept alive with a win over one of the top teams in the league. They will need to continue winning and get assistance from around the league if they are to have a chance to play for an IFL Championship.
The Gunslingers will visit the Tucson Sugar Skulls on July 13 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Pirates have a bye next week, but are back in action as they close out the regular season at the Tulsa Oilers on July 20 at 5:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-CR